If Govt Had Courage, UTF Agreement Would Be Nullified: MP Saeed

The government should nullify the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement and nullify all such "dark" agreements if it had the "courage to do so", said MP Mohamed Saeed (Maavah).

In a tweet posted in celebration of National Day, MP Saeed said that the honour of National Day is not conferred with "clever words" and "garlands placed around necks". He stated that the honour was a trust that should be respected "in word and deed".

"If you have the courage, nullify the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement and nullify all dark treaties", he said.

The contents of the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement, made between the Maldivian and Indian governments, remain classified. MP Saeed had asked Home Minister, Imran Abdulla, who had been summoned to the Majlis, a question on whether or not the agreement had been discussed in the Cabinet. The Home Minister claimed to have not heard MP Saeed's question clearly and did not provide an answer. Eva Abdulla, the acting Speaker, had decided to not grant MP Saeed the chance to re-iterate his question.

Dhiyares newspaper had also lodged a request for information with the Ministry of Defence. The Ministry of Defence had refused to disclose any information. The appeals process on the lodged request for information is currently ongoing at the Information Commissioner's Office. At the last hearing, the Ministry of Defence had claimed that disclosing any information posed a threat to national security.

A draft copy of the Uthuru Thila Falhu agreement had been leaked earlier this year. The leaked document showed that Indian military personnel would be stationed in the Maldives for decades. However, at a press conference, the Vice Chief of Defence Force Abdur Raheem claimed that the agreement would only allow for the stationing of "technical staff" for a period of 15 years. The Ministry of Defence has declined to disclose the organisation or institution to which the technical staff would belong.